I read recently about a patient who spent 4 hours in an ER but was never experienced touch by a human. Not surprising, really. Technology is doing a lot of what we used to do with our eyes, ears and hands. For better or worse. While physicians often associate touch with the physical exam, it can facilitate more powerful things. Here are a few things the hand can ... Continue Reading about Touch | Beyond the Physical Examination
Doctors and the Future of Touch
I wonder about the future of touch. I suffer with herniated lumbar disks. L4-L5 bulges and ruptures on occasion. If you catch me on the wrong day I have a little curvature to my back representing the spasm that makes me miserable. I saw an extremely well-referenced orthopedic surgeon in consultation recently. But through the course of my visit he never touched ... Continue Reading about Doctors and the Future of Touch
Connecting When the Patient Doesn’t Speak Your Language
I can’t say that I enjoy the patient encounter as much when it involves a translator. There’s just something about communicating through a third party that changes the experience. But there are some things you can do as a provider to bridge the gap when the patient doesn't speak your language. Look. Even thought the translator is doing the talking, look at the ... Continue Reading about Connecting When the Patient Doesn’t Speak Your Language